Abstract

The physical and physiological characteristics of fruits and seeds were analyzed so that parameters may be determined to differentiate cactus plants of the Cereus genus from south and northeastern Brazil. Length, width, bark thickness, pulp diameter, weight of fruits, and sugar content (°Brix) of the fruit pulp, number of seeds (NS), weight of 100 seeds (P₁₀₀) and germination taxa (%G) of the seeds from plants of the two regions were evaluated. Fruit length, bark thickness and Brix degree were higher in Cereus plants from Maringá (south) than in plants from Picos (northeast), whilst the P₁₀₀ of plants cultivated in Picos was higher than the P₁₀₀ of plants grown in Maringá. NS and %G, at 30°C, were not significantly different in the seeds of the plants cultivated in Maringá and Picos.Positive Pearson correlation was reported between NS and the fruits´ weight, length, width, and diameter. Fruit width hada positive correlation with the weight, length, diameter, bark thickness and sugar content. The length, diameter and thickness of the bark were also positively correlated with the fruits´ sugar content. Above evidences suggestthat larger fruits present higher Brix degree. The present study was important to shown that the Cereus plants from Maringá may be a source of bigger and sweeter fruits, essential characteristics for breeding programs.

Keywords

cactus, mandacaru, fruit length, bark thickness, fruit weight, weight of seeds, germination rate, postharvest behaviour, produceviable seedlings, breeding program, anticancer effects, gastric ulcers, seeds germination, analytical balance, cultivated plants